Systems and methods for communicating documents

ABSTRACT

A system includes telephone and packet-switched network interfaces and a translator. The translator receives messages. Outgoing messages originate from a multiple-function peripheral (MFP) and are received via a transfer agent (TA). Outgoing e-mail messages include an attached file in an image file format. The translator removes and delivers the attachment in facsimile format. Incoming fax messages are attached to an e-mail message. The TA receives and relays the e-mail message to an identified MFP, which discards the e-mail message and prints the attachment. A method for processing fax messages includes associating an identifier with a MFP, receiving a fax intended for the MFP, generating an e-mail message with an attachment representing the fax and communicating the e-mail message to a transfer agent that relays the e-mail to the MFP, which discards the e-mail body and prints the attachment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S.Non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/852,315, filed on Sep. 9,2007. The entire contents of the foregoing priority application ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Facsimile (fax) technology has been a successful means to transmitdocuments electronically. With the emergence of publicly accessible datanetworks and electronic mail (e-mail) applications, it appeared asthough that fax communications would be rapidly replaced by e-mail.However, it is now clear that the two technologies will co-exist for awhile.

In a deployment of fax machines in an office environment equipped withInternet access, a fax server is connected to the public switchedtelephone network (PSTN) by one or more dedicated lines, such as T1/E1.As observed from the perspective of the fax server, the PSTN is both thesource of incoming faxes as well as the destination for outgoing faxes.The fax server is also connected to a packet-switched network, whichprovides connections to users. In this way, the fax server providesdesktop faxing capabilities via various e-mail applications. The faxserver can also used to provide fax-back transaction confirmation, faxbroadcasting or automated form processing.

The fax server uses specialized interface circuits for converting thefax information communicated by the users. When a document arrives atthe fax server, the fax server converts the document into a format thatis suitable for transmission over the PSTN. Thereafter, the fax serversends the converted document over the PSTN via its dedicated interfacecircuits. Conversely, for a fax arriving at the fax server, the faxserver identifies the destination user, converts the incoming faxtransmission into a format suitable for delivery to the destinationuser, and sends the converted document to the destination user over theinternal IP network.

In a common enterprise, the users are not only connected to the faxserver via the internal internet protocol (IP) network, but are alsoconnected to an internetworking gateway, which connects the internal IPnetwork to the Internet. The gateway allows a user to communicateelectronically with other parties connected to the Internet. Suchelectronic communications may include store-and-forward messages (e.g.,e-mail), real time one-way communications (e.g., live TV), real timetwo-way communications (e.g., Internet telephony, etc.).

The gateway is typically connected to an Internet Service Provider(ISP). The connection between the gateway and the ISP or the PSTN istypically established via dedicated T1/E1 lines or in some cases opticalfiber, similar to the connection between the fax server and the PSTN.

It is apparent that a first set of dedicated T1/E1 lines are required toprovide fax functionality and a second set of dedicated T1/E1 lines orother data transmission media are required to provide Internet access.The use of two sets of dedicated data transmission media is expensive tomaintain and, moreover, it is possible to experience the situation inwhich either set of lines is idle while the other set is being used atits maximum capacity. In such a situation, the capacity of the underusedset of lines goes to waste. The requirement for dedicated hardware forinterfacing with the PSTN translates into a further non-negligibleexpense for the enterprise.

Multiple-function peripheral devices enable various combinations of fax,print, copy, and scan-to-store functionality to end users. Themanufacturers of these multiple-function peripherals have alsosuccessfully integrated the functionality of scanning and communicatinga document as an attachment in an e-mail message by integrating networkinterfaces or adapters. These systems require an operator of themultiple-function peripheral to enter a destination e-mail address. Evenwhen the destination address has been entered and stored in anelectronic address book, accessing the address book, locating andselecting the destination address is time consuming.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop systems and methods thatovercome these shortcomings in the integration and flexibility of faxand e-mail functionality.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods that communicate documents from a multiple-functionperipheral (MFP) via an e-mail application, data network and a faxserver are invented and disclosed. The MFP is used in a fax emulation orlocal area network fax mode to scan and convert a source document intoan image format file. A destination phone number entered by a user ofthe MFP is used by a mail transfer agent (MTA) to generate a destinationaddress. The MTA generates a source address in accordance withidentifying information extracted from the MFP. In addition, the MTAinserts message processing controls as may be desired into the subjectline of an e-mail message. The image file format version of the sourcedocument is added as an attachment and communicated from the MTA to thefax server as an e-mail message. The fax server identifies and appliesthe message processing controls to the attachment to generate anoutgoing PSTN fax. The fax server delivers the outgoing PSTN fax to thedestination phone number.

In one aspect of the present invention, a method for communicatingdocuments is provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) receivingan image file from a multiple-function peripheral emulating a facsimilemode, where the multiple-function peripheral provides identifyinginformation, and public-switched telephone network information; (2)generating an e-mail message including the identifying information, thepublic-switched telephone network information, and an image format filein an attachment; (3) generating a destination address compatible with adata network from information provided in the e-mail message; (4)communicating, to a server, the e-mail message with the destinationaddress and at least one instruction for processing the attachment as anoutgoing facsimile; and (5) returning a delivery confirmation of theoutgoing facsimile using the identifying information.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for processingdocuments is provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) associatinga destination identifier with a multiple-function peripheral coupled toa data network; (2) receiving a facsimile format message intended forthe multiple-function peripheral as defined by the destinationidentifier; (3) generating an e-mail message with an image format filein an attachment, the attachment including an electronic representationof the facsimile format message; (4) communicating the e-mail message toan e-mail server; and (5) forwarding the e-mail message to themultiple-function peripheral in response to a periodic request from themultiple-function peripheral.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a system forcommunicating documents is provided. The system includes: apublic-switched telephone network (PSTN) interface in communication withthe PSTN; a packet-switched network interface communicatively coupled toa simple mail transfer protocol server via a message transfer agent; anda translator communicatively coupled to the PSTN interface and thepacket-switched network interface, the translator configured to receiveoutgoing e-mail messages originating from a multiple-function peripheralvia the message transfer agent, the outgoing e-mail messages includingidentifying information and having an image format file in anattachment, the translator further configured to remove and deliver theattachment in a facsimile format in accordance with one or more encodedcommands in the outgoing email message and deliver a confirmation usingthe identifying information.

Other devices, methods, features and advantages will be or will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the followingfigures and detailed description. All such additional devices, methods,features and advantages are defined and protected by the accompanyingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present systems and methods for communicating documents, as definedin the claims, can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings. The components within the drawings are not necessarily toscale relative to each other; emphasis instead is placed upon clearlyillustrating the elements, features and principles involved insupporting the transfer of documents to and receiving documents from amultiple-function peripheral device

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of anexample network environment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating inbound fax messageprocessing through the network environment of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating outbound fax messageprocessing through the network environment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of ane-mail message.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method forcommunicating documents.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method forprocessing documents

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods that communicate documents are invented anddisclosed. A multiple-function peripheral (MFP) coupled to a datanetwork sends and receives fax messages absent fax modems and the PSTN.Fax messages are received at a fax server or translator. The translatorconverts and appends the received PSTN facsimile to an image format fileas an e-mail message or extracts the image format file information andappends the same in an e-mail attachment. Both tagged image file format(TIFF) and portable document format (PDF) are supported. In analternative embodiment, the received fax is converted into commandsusing a printer command language (PCL). The PCL commands are directed tothe destination MFP, which generates a hard-copy representation of thefax in accordance with the commands. The e-mail message with theattached fax message is forwarded via one of two methods. The methodsare selectable depending on user preference.

The first method forwards the e-mail message from the translator to ane-mail server where the message is stored until application softwareoperable on the destination MFP requests the stored e-mail message usingan e-mail account assigned to the MFP. The application software receivesthe e-mail message with the attached fax, discards the e-mail messageand prints the fax. In some embodiments, the MFP alerts a designatedindividual that a fax has been printed. Otherwise, the fax is availablein the output bin for pickup and distribution to an addressee or fordesignated distribution.

The second method uses an e-mail delivery agent within the translator toforward the e-mail message to a message transfer agent (MTA). The e-maildelivery agent uses the destination phone number extracted from the PSTNfax to identify a destination domain. The e-mail delivery agent performsa domain name system (DNS) lookup for information associated with theidentified destination domain. A mail exchange (MX) record provided by aclient of a fax service is used to identify a mail server for processingthe message. The MTA relays the e-mail message in accordance with theclient's internal DNS mechanism. In one embodiment, a specific devicename is used. In other embodiments, a client specific (internal) IPaddress is used to route the e-mail message to an SMTP server in thedesignated MFP. When more than one mail exchange record is included withthe e-mail message, the mail exchange records can be prioritized with apreference number that indicates the order in which the MFPs should beused. This enables the use of primary and backup MFPs for processing thefax. Again, the MFP receives the e-mail message with the attached fax,discards the e-mail message and prints the fax. As described above, theMFP can be configured to alert a designated individual that a fax isavailable at the MFP. The designated individual need not be an addresseelisted on the fax.

The MFP scans an outgoing document in fax emulation or local areanetwork fax mode. The operator of the MFP enters a destination phonenumber just as with a fax machine. However, instead of using a fax modemand the PSTN at the customer premise to communicate the fax message toits intended recipient, the present system converts the scanned documentinto an image format file that is attached to an e-mail messageaddressed to a fax service or translator. Again, both TIFF and PDF aresupported. No additional address information is required from theoperator of the MFP. The MTA, which can be integrated in the MFP, orenabled in a local-area network coupled device can be configured toprovide one or more encoded commands in the generated e-mail message.The MTA generates a source address in accordance with identifyinginformation extracted from the MFP. The translator identifies andapplies the encoded commands to the attachment to generate an outgoingfax. The outgoing fax is transmitted via the PSTN to the destinationphone number. A delivery confirmation is returned to the sending ororiginating MFP via the e-mail server or MTA. The delivery confirmationmay be sent as an e-mail message or as an attachment to an e-mailmessage.

In one embodiment, a user identifier is associated with the outgoing faxinstead of or in addition to the MFP specific identifier. When this isthe case, the system can use the user identifier when generating the faxcoversheet and when returning a confirmation. In this embodiment, a faxconfirmation can be forwarded to a particular user's e-mail accountrather than or in addition to the MFP that was used to scan thedocument. A user identifier can be communicated to the MFP in multipleways. For example, a card reader can be used to scan informationavailable on an employee identification card, a radio frequency receivercan be used to scan radio-frequency identifiers from passive or activetags that can be incorporated in an employee identification card, or auser specific code can be entered via the user interface on the MFP.Preferably, the MFP or an external MTA will have a lookup table that canbe used to determine the user of the MFP. The translator can use theuser information to forward the confirmation message to the specifieduser.

Having generally described operation of the systems and methods forcommunicating documents, various additional embodiments will bedescribed with respect to FIGS. 1-6. FIG. 1 is a functional blockdiagram illustrating an embodiment of an example network environment.Network environment 100 includes PSTN 10, data network 40 and customernetwork 60. Translator 120 is coupled to PSTN 10 via link 11 and datanetwork 40 via link 45. An e-mail server 50 is coupled to data network40 via link 47. Customer network 60 is coupled to data network 40 vialink 43.

E-mail server 50 is a data network coupled MTA or system of MTAs, usedto route e-mail and serve e-mail, by storing e-mail messages andsupporting customer access using post-office protocol (POP), internetmessage access protocol (IMAP) or other protocols.

Translator 120 includes PSTN interface 20, packet-switched interface 30and engine 125. PSTN interface 20 makes the necessary data and signaltranslations to send and receive data including fax signal transmissionsvia PSTN 10. Similarly, packet-switched interface 30 makes the necessarydata and signal translations to send and receive data packets via datanetwork 40. Engine 125 includes a processor and memory (not shown) toenable processing of incoming and outgoing fax documents.

Customer network 60 includes MTA 110, MFP 61, MFP 63 and MFP 69. Thenumber of MTAs and MFPs within customer network 60 may be expanded asdesired to meet the fax communication and printing needs of thesupported enterprise. MFP 61 is coupled to MTA 110 via link 62. MFP 63is coupled to MTA 110 via link 64. MFP 69 is coupled to MTA 110 via link66. In turn, MTA 110 is coupled to data network 40 via link 43. MTA 110receives and relays incoming e-mail messages and associated attachmentsin accordance with the customer network's domain name system, whichassigns an Internet protocol address to each physical device coupled tocustomer network 60. In addition, MTA 110 generates an e-mail messagewith an image format file attachment and forwards the e-mail message inaccordance with the phone number entered by a user of one of MFP 61, MFP63 and MFP 69. MTA 110 will include one or both of an MFP identifier anda user identifier in the generated e-mail message.

It is important to note that the network environment 100 illustrated inFIG. 1 is not the only contemplated embodiment. For example, either orboth of the translator 120 and the e-mail server 50 may be implementedwithin and under the management and control of customer network 60. Inaddition, a single MTA 110 is illustrated in communication with MFP 61,MFP 63 and MFP 69 within customer network 60. Alternatively, the MTAfunctionality can be implemented within application software and/orfirmware operable within each of MFP 61, MFP 63 and MFP 69 such as withSMTP server 261, SMTP server 262 and SMTP server 269. It should befurther understood that each of the illustrated communication links withdata network 40, such as link 43, link 45 and link 47 or internal linkswithin customer network 60, such as link 62, link 64 and link 66 may bepartially or entirely enabled wirelessly.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating inbound fax messageprocessing through the network environment 100 of FIG. 1. Diagram 200illustrates the processing of an incoming fax message from right to leftacross the figure. As shown in FIG. 2, fax message 2 is received bytranslator 120, which generates an e-mail message and translates the faxformat message into an image format file attachment. The generatede-mail message with the attachment is communicated to MTA 110 or e-mailserver 50, which forward the e-mail message and the attachment to thedesignated MFP (e.g., MFP 61). In turn, MFP 61 generates a hard copyrepresentation 3 of the fax message 2 from the received attachment. Asdescribed above, the attachment includes one or more files in PDF orTIFF. Alternatively, the attachment includes PCL commands that instructthe MFP in rendering a representation of the inbound fax.

Engine 125 includes software and or firmware that detects and processesa received fax message. That is, engine 125 includes conversion logic222, message generation logic 224 and communication logic 226.Conversion logic 222 is configured to convert the fax format messageinto an image format file. In this regard, conversion logic 222 can beconfigured to convert the fax into a TIFF or a PDF file. Messagegeneration logic 224 is configured to generate an e-mail messageaddressed to the intended recipient of the fax message and attach theimage format file. Message generation logic 224 uses information fromdialed number identification service (DNIS) store 220 as well as accountstore 221 to address the message. DNIS store 220 includes informationthat is used by the message generation logic 224 to direct an inboundfax message to the appropriate e-mail address. In the illustratedembodiment, a client generated MX record 225 includes information thatcan be used to direct the e-mail message either to e-mail server 50 orto MTA 110. Account store 221 includes a unique phone number and e-mailaddress for each MFP (e.g., MFP 61) in the system. Communication logic226 forwards an appropriately configured e-mail message and theattachment to MTA 110 via link 45, link 40 and link 43. Alternatively,communication logic 226 sends the e-mail message and the attachment toan e-mail account enabled by e-mail server 50 via link 45, link 40 andlink 47.

When the MTA 110 receives the e-mail message and attachment, relay logic230 interprets the name of the destination MFP and uses a local DNSmechanism to identify the local IP address. Once, the local IP addressis identified, MTA 110 forwards the e-mail message and attachmentaccordingly. In the illustrated embodiment, the e-mail message and theattachment are designated for delivery to MFP 61 via link 62. Otherwise,in accordance with a configured parameter, SMTP server 261, operable onthe MFP 61, periodically sends a request to e-mail server 50 to forwarde-mail messages in store 280 that are addressed to MFP 61. In response,e-mail server 50 forwards the appropriately addressed e-mail messagesfrom store 228, along with their attachments to SMTP server 261.

In addition to SMTP server 261, MFP 61 includes software and or firmwarethat processes a received e-mail message. That is, MFP 61 includesdiscard e-mail logic 232 and print attachment logic 234. Discard e-maillogic 232 strips the attachment from its host e-mail message. Printattachment logic 234 renders the information in the image format fileinto a hard-copy representation 3 of the received fax message 2.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating outbound fax messageprocessing through the network environment 100 of FIG. 1. Diagram 300illustrates the processing of an outbound fax message from left to rightacross the figure. As shown in FIG. 3, source document 5 is received byMFP 61, which scans the document in fax mode and generates an imagefile. The image file and identifying information are communicated to MTA110. In turn, MTA 110 receives the image file and identifyinginformation and generates an e-mail message with an attachment, which iscommunicated to translator 120 for further processing. Translator 120received the e-mail message and translates the image format file into afax format information stream. Additional logic in translator 120determines whether a cover sheet should be added and in accordance witha previously store configuration or encoded commands in the e-mailmessage formats the cover sheet. Thereafter, the fax format informationstream and any cover sheet information is communicated via PSTN 10 todeliver fax message 2 to the intended fax device.

MFP 61 includes software and or firmware that processes a document. Thatis, MFP 61 includes scan in fax mode logic 322 and generate image filelogic 324. Scan in fax mode logic 322 receives a destination phonenumber and captures an image of each page of the document 5. Generateimage file logic 324 converts the captured image into a image formatfile. As further illustrated in FIG. 3, MFP 61 can be configured toreceive user identifier 340. As described above, a user identifier canbe communicated by any number of various mechanisms. The user identifiercan be entered via a user interface on MFP 61. The user identifier canbe received via a passive or active radio-frequency identification tagworn or otherwise attached to an operator of the MFP 61. In addition,the user identifier can be received from a badge scanner coupled to theMFP 61. Regardless of the mechanism for communicating the useridentifier, MFP 61 communicates the image file and the MFP identifierand/or user identifier via link 62 to MTA 110.

MTA 110 includes software or firmware that further processes a document.In this regard, MTA 110 includes message generation logic 326,attachment logic 328 and communication logic 330. Message generationlogic 326 creates an e-mail message. The e-mail message includes a “to”field entry with the destination phone number inserted as a prefixconcatenated to a server name and an extension of an e-mail accountassociated with translator 120. Attachment logic 328 appends orotherwise associates the image file as an attachment to the createde-mail message. Communication logic 330 sends the generated e-mailmessage and the attachment to translator 120 via link 43, link 40, andlink 45.

Engine 125 within translator 120 includes software and or firmware thatdetects and processes a received e-mail message. That is, engine 125includes discard message logic 332, format logic 334 and communicationlogic 226. Discard message logic 332 removes the attachment from thereceived e-mail message. Format logic 334, in accordance with one ormore encoded commands in the e-mail message adds and appropriatelyformats a cover sheet to be sent with the fax message. Communicationlogic 226 forwards appropriately translated fax format information viaPSTN 10 to the destination phone number.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of an examplee-mail message 400 as rendered on a display device. The e-mail message400 includes title bar 410, drop-down-menu bar 420, task bar 430, header440, and body 450. Title bar 410 is arranged across the top of message400. Title bar 410 includes pushbuttons arranged left-to-right that whenselected minimize, resize, and close the message application window,respectively. Title bar 410 may include an alphanumeric title (notshown) to identify the e-mail message from other e-mail messages.Drop-down menu bar 420 includes a set of alphanumeric titles forrespective drop-down menus commonly available in graphical userinterfaces.

Task bar 430 includes a set of pushbuttons arranged left-to-right thatwhen selected perform a respective operational task, open a tool,configure various application parameters, etc. As is known, each of thepushbuttons may be labeled with an icon indicative of the associatedoperation, tool, or configuration item to be manipulated.

Header 440 includes a set of data entry fields and a configuration oredit panel. Specifically, header 440 includes “from” field 441, “to”field 442, “CC” field 443, “subject” field 444 and “attachment” field445. Each of “from” field 441, “to” field 442, “CC” field 443, “subject”field 444 and “attachment” field 445 are configured to receive and/ordisplay alphanumeric strings. “From” field 441 is arranged to receiveand display a first alphanumeric string that identifies the source ofthe message in message body 450. “To” field 442 is arranged to receiveand display a second alphanumeric string that identifies an intendeddestination for the message in message body 250. “CC” field 443 isarranged to receive and display a third alphanumeric string thatidentifies additional parties or destinations that are to receive a copyof the message in message body 250. “Subject” field 444 is arranged toreceive and display a fourth alphanumeric string that discloses what themessage in message body 450 concerns. “Attachment” field 445 is arrangedto receive and display a fifth alphanumeric string that includes afilename of one or more files attached to the e-mail message 400. Header440 further includes task/configuration bar 446, which includes a set ofpushbuttons labeled with icons indicative of an associated task that isperformed when the pushbutton is active and selected. For example,task/configuration bar 446 may include pushbuttons associated withprint, save, edit (including cut, copy and paste selected text strings)and formatting tasks.

In the illustrated embodiment, “from” field 441 includes a string ofsub-strings separated by three instances of a period. The firstsub-string, “ATL-07-MS3A,” identifies the location of the source MFPthat generated the e-mail message. The second sub-string, “printers,”indicates that the MFP is capable of printing files and is coupled tothe customer network 60 (FIG. 1). The third sub-string, “domain,”indicates the name of the customer's network domain. The fourthsub-string, “com” reveals the extension of the address of the MFP. The“to” field includes a string of sub-strings identifying an e-mailaddress. The first sub-string, “8665551212,” includes the destinationphone number associated with the intended recipient of the fax message.The second sub-string, “servername,” reveals the domain name of thetranslator that will process the message. The third sub-string, “com”reveals the extension of the address associated with the translator 120.The “attachment” field 445 includes a string that represents thefilename of the file attached to the e-mail message. The illustratedfilename indicates that the file was generated on Aug. 17, 2007. Thefile was generated as the result of the third scanned document processedon that day and includes 12 pages

“Subject” field 444 includes three strings separated by semicolons. Thefirst of the strings, “//NOBODY” is a command that directs thetranslator 120 to ignore any information in the body 450 of e-mailmessage 400. The second string, “//CP=NONE,” is a command that directsthe translator 120 to omit a coversheet from the outgoing fax message.The third string, “//REPORT=[NONE|DETAIL|EXCEPTION],” is used to directthe translator 120 how to report fax delivery. Additional andalternative encoded instructions can be easily enabled to instruct thetranslator 120 to use information in the body 450 to generate and formata cover sheet to be inserted into the outgoing fax message.

Generally, in terms of hardware architecture, the above-described MTA110, translator 120 and SMTP server 261 each include respectiveprocessors and memories, as well as local and external interfaces. Eachrespective combination is arranged such that the processor is incommunication with the memory via the local interface. The localinterface can be, for example but not limited to, one or more buses orother wired or wireless connections, as is known in the art. The localinterface may have additional elements, such as controllers, buffers(caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers, to enable communications.Further, the local interface may include address, control, power and/ordata connections to enable appropriate communications among theaforementioned components.

The respective processors are hardware devices for executing software,particularly that stored in the associated memory devices. Theprocessors can be any custom made or commercially available processorconfigured to execute software instructions.

The respective memories can include any one or a combination of volatilememory elements (e.g., random-access memory (RAM), such as dynamicrandom-access memory (DRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM),synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM), etc.) and nonvolatilememory elements (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), hard drive, tape, compactdisk read-only memory (CD-ROM), etc.). Moreover, the respective memoriesmay incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types ofstorage media. Each memory can have a distributed architecture, wherevarious components are situated remote from one another, but stillaccessible via the associated processor

One or more programs, each of which comprises an ordered listing ofexecutable instructions for implementing logical functions can be storedin the respective memories. In addition, each of the memories mayinclude an operating system that essentially controls the execution ofthe illustrated functions and perhaps additional functions such asscheduling, input-output control, file and data management, memorymanagement, communication control and related services.

When implemented as source programs, the programs are translated via acompiler, assembler, interpreter, or the like, to operate properly inconnection with the operating system.

The external interfaces perform signal conditioning and data formatconversions to enable communication through one or both of wired andwireless networks. Wired interfaces are compatible with Ethernetstandards and TCP/IP. Wireless interfaces are compatible with one ormore of the infrared data association (IrDA) and the Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (I.E.E.E.) 802 family of wirelessdata communication protocols. It should be understood that otherdata-network interfaces compatible with other communication standardsand protocols may also be used.

Additional interfaces and mechanisms can be coupled to each of the MTA110, translator 120, and SMTP server 261 to configure these devices.These mechanisms may include browsers or other software (not shown)configured to expose configuration parameters, data tables and otherinformation to external devices. Moreover, the local interface can beconfigured with one or more man-machine interfaces such as a keyboard, adisplay, a printer, etc. Such human-machine interfaces may include touchsensitive displays or the combination of a graphical-user interface anda controllable pointing device such as a mouse to enable an operator toconfigure or otherwise modify MTA 110, translator 120 or SMTP server 261gateway 121 and gateway 122.

When instructions and data elements are implemented in software itshould be noted that these software elements can be stored on anycomputer-readable medium for use by or in connection with any computerrelated system or method. In the context of this document, a“computer-readable medium” can be any means that can store, communicate,propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with theinstruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Thecomputer-readable medium can be, for example but not limited to, anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readablemedium would include the following: an electrical connection(electronic) having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette(magnetic), a RAM (electronic), a ROM (electronic), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM), or Flash memory) (electronic),an optical fiber (optical), and a CDROM (optical). Note that thecomputer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable mediumupon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronicallycaptured, for instance, via optical scanning of the paper or othermedium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitablemanner if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

In an alternative embodiment, where one or more of instructions operablewithin MTA 110, translator 120 and SMTP server 261 are implemented inhardware, the instructions can be implemented with any or a combinationof the following technologies, which are each well known in the art: adiscrete logic circuit(s) having logic gates for implementing logicfunctions upon data signals, an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC) having appropriate combinational logic gates, a programmable gatearray(s) (PGA), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method forcommunicating documents. The flow diagram of FIG. 5 shows thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of a possible implementationvia software and or firmware associated with communicatively coupleddevices. In this regard, each block represents a module, segment, orportion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified function(s).

Method 500 begins with block 502 where a destination identifier isassociated with a specific MFP coupled to a data network. Thereafter, asshown in input/output block 520, a fax message intended for the MFP asdefined by the destination identifier is received. Upon receipt of thefax, an e-mail message is generated with an image format file attachmentas shown in block 530. As further indicated in block 530 the attachmentincludes an electronic representation of the fax message. Next, as shownin input/output block 540, the e-mail message is communicated to atransfer agent configured to forward or relay the e-mail message to theMFP.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method forprocessing documents. The flow diagram of FIG. 6 shows the architecture,functionality, and operation of a possible implementation via softwareand or firmware associated with communicatively coupled devices. In thisregard, each block represents a module, segment, or portion of code,which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing thespecified function(s).

Method 600 begins with input/output block 610 where an e-mail messageincluding an attachment in an image file format is received from a MFPoperating in facsimile mode, the MFP providing PSTN information in thee-mail message. Thereafter, as shown in block 620, a destination addresscompatible with a data network is generated in accordance withinformation provided in the e-mail message. Next, as shown ininput/output block 630, the e-mail message is communicated along withthe destination address and at least one instruction for processing theattachment.

As described above, the flow diagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5 show thearchitecture, functionality and operation of an implementation ofexample methods for communicating documents. The described functions canbe embodied in source code including human-readable statements writtenin a programming language or machine code that comprises instructionsrecognizable by a suitable execution system such as a processor in acomputer system. The machine code may be converted from the source code,etc. If embodied in hardware, each block may represent a circuit or anumber of interconnected circuits to implement the specified logicalfunction(s).

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the scope of the claims to the precise forms disclosed.Modifications or variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings. The embodiments discussed, however, were chosen and describedto enable one of ordinary skill to utilize various embodiments of thepresent systems and methods. All such modifications and variations arewithin the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordancewith the breadth to which they are fairly and legally entitled.

We claim:
 1. A method for communicating documents, comprising: receivingan image file from a multiple-function peripheral emulating a facsimilemode, wherein the multiple-function peripheral provides identifyinginformation, and public-switched telephone network information;generating an e-mail message including the identifying information, thepublic-switched telephone network information, and an image format filein an attachment; generating a destination address compatible with adata network from information provided in the e-mail message;communicating, to a server, the e-mail message with the destinationaddress and at least one instruction for processing the attachment as anoutgoing facsimile; and returning a delivery confirmation of theoutgoing facsimile using the identifying information.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the attachment is in tagged image file format (TIFF) orportable document format (PDF).
 3. The method of claim 1, whereingenerating a destination address comprises appending a domain identifierassociated with the server to a username or appending a domainidentifier associated with the server to a username and replacing theusername with a destination phone number.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising: encoding a command in a subject field or encodinginformation in the body of the e-mail message.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the identifying information comprises the identity of themultiple-function peripheral or the identity of a user.
 6. A system forcommunicating documents, comprising: a public-switched telephone network(PSTN) interface in communication with the PSTN; a packet-switchednetwork interface communicatively coupled to a simple mail transferprotocol server via a message transfer agent; and a translatorcommunicatively coupled to the PSTN interface and the packet-switchednetwork interface, the translator configured to receive outgoing e-mailmessages originating from a multiple-function peripheral via the messagetransfer agent, the outgoing e-mail messages including identifyinginformation and having an image format file in an attachment, thetranslator further configured to remove and deliver the attachment in afacsimile format in accordance with one or more encoded commands in theoutgoing email message and deliver a confirmation using the identifyinginformation.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the message transferagent inserts a destination phone number as entered by a user of themultiple-function peripheral in an e-mail address, inserts a sourceidentifier associated with the multiple-function peripheral, or insertsa source identifier associated with the operator of themultiple-function peripheral.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein thesource identifier associated with the operator of the multiple-functionperipheral comprises a user account.
 9. The system of claim 6, whereinthe message transfer agent relays an incoming e-mail message with animage format file attachment to an identified multiple-functionperipheral and wherein the identified multiple-function peripheraldiscards the email message and generates a hard-copy representation ofthe information in the image format file.